Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A very fine and crunchy red with currant, fresh-herb and spice aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, polished tannins and a bright finish. Tighter at the end. 70% cabernet sauvignon and 30% cabernet franc. Give it two or three years to open.
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Wine Spectator
A powerful style, yet open too, boasting black cherry, blackberry, cedar, iron and tobacco flavors. Dense, but turns more refined on the finish. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2030.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
An outstanding wine region made famous by Marchese Mario Incisa della Rocchetta, who planted Cabernet Sauvignon vines for his own consumption in 1940s on his San Guido estate, and called the resulting wine, Sassicaia. Today the region’s Tuscan reds are based on Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, which can be made as single varietal wines or blends. The local Sangiovese can make up no more than 50% of the blends. Today Sassicaia has its own DOC designation within the Bogheri DOC appellation.